Ware 0 Great Wakering Rv 2
22 February 2012
IT was a Wakering wake-up call for Ware as they crashed back down to earth after their thumping win at Soham three days earlier – with Great Wakering firing a warning that the battle to avoid relegation is far from over.
A win for Ware would have left Rovers languishing at the bottom with a mountain to climb, but a below-par showing from the home side saw Great Wakering take three precious points to aid their own relegation scrap.
Changes in personnel were forced upon Ware boss Stuart Nethercott. With Dan Johnson unavailable, Michael Akande made his first start in central midfield, while Dave Bastian filled in for the unwell Vince Rispoli at centre-half, with Liam Foster moving back to right-back and Kieran Weekes coming back into the side on the right wing.
There was also a welcome return for former fans’ favourite Murat Karagul, who partnered fellow Wingate & Finchley loanee Lewis Jones up front – the latter playing his final game before returning to his parent club, with Karagul seen as a prospective like-for-like replacement.
But despite having a strong side on paper, Ware were unable to gain a foothold in a game which saw Wakering constantly hassling for the ball, and which was ultimately decided by the home side’s mistakes.
TWIST AND TURN: Kieran Weekes causes problems for Great Wakering (PIC: Ian Bush)
Ware made a bright start as Ricci Crace struck a loose ball just wide of the far post after only three minutes.
At the other end, Wakering striker Luca Frankis surged into the box on the right and beat Ware goalkeeper Rhys Madden, but the ball was turned away on the goalline by Foster.
Great Wakering took the lead in the 18th minute from the penalty spot. The referee spotted a handball in the box, and Jack Carlile sent Madden the wrong way from 12 yards.
Madden made a flying save to keep out a stunning effort from the acrobatic Nick Skelton on 21 minutes following a free kick swung into the box after Kieran Weekes fouled Carlile.
Eight minutes before the break, Ware’s only shot on target in the first half occurred, with Karagul setting up Jones for a low strike, Wakering goalkeeper Louis Godwin-Green making a low stop.
Ware kicked off the second half with renewed urgency, but they were dealt a body blow just two minutes after the restart.
A ball in from the left caused all sorts of problems, and although Madden got his hands to it, the ball ran loose in the box for Billy Johnson to smash home for 2-0.
Frankis raced forward a minute later but his chipped effort dropped the wrong side of the far upright.
The introduction of attacking players Ryan Mattos and Aime Blessing saw Ware go with three at the back, but still they were frustrated by Great Wakering’s keenness to win the ball.
Just past the hour mark, Jones forced a save from Godwin-Green at his near post with a free kick, awarded after Rovers player-boss Dan Trenkel floored Blessing, a foul for which he was cautioned.
Two minutes later, a header from Crace fell to Jones, who teed up substitute Mattos for a shot from the edge of the box, but his shot was dragged wide.
Mattos blazed high and wide shortly afterwards, while Karagul’s final act before being substituted was to clip a ball over the advancing Godwin-Green, only to see it slip just wide of the target.
STRETCH: Murat Karagul chips Great Wakering goalkeeper Louis Godwin-Green (PIC: Ian Bush)
With 12 minutes left, Madden made a good block to deny Frankis at point blank range, despite his view being obstructed by the covering Wesley Beckles.
Frankis had two further chances in the closing stages, the first on 85 minutes when he surged into the box but was denied by a covering tackle by Glen Parry, and the second in stoppage time when he beat the off-side trap to gleefully sprint away from the Ware defence, only to clip his shot past the post.
Ware: Rhys Madden, Liam Foster, Glen Parry, Michael Akande, Wesley Beckles, Dave Bastian, Kieran Weekes (sub: Ryan Mattos, 58), Murat Karagul (sub: Junior Adeoye, 76), Lewis Jones, Ricci Crace, Tom Querry (sub: Aime Blessing, 58). Subs not used: Laurence Rispoli, Michael Elliott.
